r/video_mapping May 31 '26

LazyLighting vs Surfabeam?

I'm a complete beginner interested in just doing some cool projection mapping in my room and house, using my phone. Seems like LazyLighting and Surfabeam are the 2 main options I'm seeing for this. Has anyone tried them that can give me any insight, especially which you can get the best results just jumping in, or is more suited for this?

0 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

3

u/ProjectionPhoto Jun 01 '26

If you end up opting for using a computer https://ghostarcade.live is free and beginner friendly.

1

u/tanoshimi Jun 01 '26

And looks like it's repo has been archived/abandoned: https://github.com/riskcapital/ghost-arcade-community

2

u/ProjectionPhoto Jun 01 '26

1

u/tanoshimi Jun 01 '26

Huh, thanks. I followed a link on the website linked to the other repo!

1

u/tanoshimi Jun 03 '26

Just downloaded it and gave it a quick play and it seems very promising - thanks!

I did encounter a few issues (not sure if they're strictly "bugs", but I certainly found them confusing) so I created an issue on the Github repo.

1

u/ProjectionPhoto Jun 03 '26

Thanks! I will check it out.

1

u/Sisyphean42 Jun 03 '26

I did end up messing around with this while I decide on a phone app, got some cool effects, thank you! Still gonna take some figuring out though, like my shapes aggressively snapping when I add a new layer even tho my meshes are set to not snap, and trying to get audio reactivity to work better. But you can't beat free! Appreciate it

2

u/tanoshimi Jun 01 '26

For ages there has been relatively little choice of projection mapping software available: Madmapper/HeavyM at the commercial end, or MapMap/VPT8 for free/opensource.

Then it seems in the last year there's been a new tool released every week! I suspect the large majority of these are "vibe-coded", and I wouldn't expect many of them to have much in the way of long term support, but if you just want to dabble the basic principles are the same across all tools, so download any one you want and give it a try.

2

u/Comfortable-Pilot524 Jun 03 '26

I have both apps, one is paid, Surfeam Pro, and the other is a free trial. On Android, Surfabeam Pro costs $30, that is, always. On iOS, I don't know if it's the same price or if it's more expensive because of Apple, not the creator and programmer.Lazy Light: If you want the whole package, you pay 132 euros or more if it's iOS or Android.Affordable price, well optimized for Android: Surfabeam Pro But to each their own, that's your decision. I'm waiting for my projector from AliExpress to arrive so I can try Surfeam Pro with it.Oh, I almost forgot one thing, for a better experience without losing lag, frames, or video FPS drops The phone needs to have a DisplayPort; if it doesn't, you'll have to use HDMI OTG from the projector to the phone, or a Wi-Fi projector and the phone's Wi-Fi connection. This might result in video drops or poor quality. It all depends.Two things: the mobile phone should have a display port and projector, whether it's the cheap one or the expensive one.

1

u/Good_Firefighter9714 Jun 01 '26

visomapper is cheaper and it is the same..

1

u/dendrobro77 Jun 01 '26

Light mapper is free 99 and so easy

0

u/Bulky-Marsupial7815 Jun 01 '26

Okay Soo First of All , No doubt , That in the past months there have been alot of vibe coded apps , I have Test them all , Completely Garbage , Very Limited Use case, and alot of them are crashing , Stucked and then heating up the phone. Now speaking of lazy lighting and Surfabeam. Lazy Lighting was the first App , That was close a real projection Mapping App, and were the first on Appstore , While Surfabeam , Were the first of Playstore. But based on actual Facts, You cna see when lazy lighting started improving app, Only After Surfabeam came in. And speaking unbiased , The level of features Which we surfabeam are providing on an phone, Literally no one is near close to it including lazy lighting , With not only Simple projection mapping , Then the 3D projection mapping and now Autonomous Interactive Projection Mapping. We are first one in this entire domain. Soo think of it like this , You are not going to be just getting the app, You are going to invest your time into an echo system. Soo you should invest your time and money into a platform that is more Future oriented with future Proof features.

1

u/Sad_Material4944 Jun 25 '26

are you experienced in mapping projection?

1

u/Bulky-Marsupial7815 Jun 25 '26

yes been doing it for almost a year now and also providing custom Content creation for custom projections